At the Austin, Texas office of Betty Blackwell, Attorney at Law, you will find a skilled Texas trial lawyer capable of handling your drunk driving or DWI/DUI, driver’s license suspension, family violence, or other criminal charge.

For over 30 years, Betty has served residents of Austin, defending them against criminal charges. Betty is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and 100% of her work is in criminal defense.

As a Texas trial attorney, Betty’s experience has taught her the importance of being able to represent clients in front of a jury, if need be. She has handled thousands of DWI cases and represented clients in numerous jury trials. When you contact Betty, you can be assured that she will fight for your rights and the best possible result whether or not you decide to go to trial.

When you hire an attorney, make sure that the Lawyer you hire will be the same lawyer standing next to you in court.

Our initial consultations are free, so you have absolutely nothing to lose. Contact the Law Office of Betty Blackwell in Austin, Texas for aggressive, qualified defense against your DWI, family violence, or other criminal charge. Let Betty bring her experience as a Board Certified Criminal Defense Lawyer to your case today.

Family violence convictions carry very serious punishments. Penalties include up to one year in the county jail or two years probation, and family violence findings on your record.

Under Federal law, those persons convicted of a criminal offense involving family violence cannot purchase or possess a firearm for the rest of their lives. (Texas law prohibits the possession of a firearm within five years of a family violence conviction.) Even if you successfully complete probation for family violence, you still have a conviction on your record for the rest of your life.

Employers have the absolute right to refuse to hire someone who is arrested or has a conviction for an assault. Employers have the right to terminate you from your job if you are arrested or convicted of a family violence assault. An assault can also affect where you can live. Landlords can refuse to rent to someone who has an assault on their record.

You should contact an Experienced Trial Lawyer who understands the complexities of this system. Let me bring my over 30 years of experience as a criminal defense lawyer to your case today.

Call the Law Office of Betty Blackwell in Austin, Texas for aggressive, qualified defense against your criminal charge. Call to schedule your free consultation with a Board Certified Criminal Lawyer.

Many people do not fully understand the seriousness of a Texas domestic or family violence crime until it’s much too late. Texas Family Violence is defined as the reckless infliction of pain on a family or household member, which can simply involve two people who live together or are dating. The charges are filed by the police department, not by the abused person. In fact, the victim has no control over the charges at all. The victim of a family violence charge does not decide what happens with the case and cannot “drop” the charges. Only the prosecutor can decide not to proceed with the case.

Simply based on the arrest, an emergency protective order (EPO) can be put into effect, which usually requires that you stay a certain distance from the alleged victim at all times. The EPO remains effective for 60 days for a misdemeanor assault and 90 days for a felony assault, prohibiting you from returning to your home if you live with the alleged victim. Matters can be further complicated if you work together or have children together. The victim can also apply for a protective order (PO), which can be granted for a period of up to two years.

These severe punishments are imposed even before a conviction, which is why it’s so important that you contact the Law Office of Betty Blackwell in Austin, Texas. Your case will be assigned to County Court of Law #4, which has been designated as the Travis County domestic abuse court. As a skilled trial lawyer who is Board Certified in Criminal Law, Betty Blackwell has an extensive history with this court and can advise you about the best way to handle your family violence charge.

In the State of Texas, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. “Intoxicated” means not having the normal use of your mental or physical faculties due to the introduction of alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription drugs, or any other substance into the body OR having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher. “Driving” under Texas laws means operating a motor vehicle. This means that a police officer can arrest and charge you with DWI even if the car is not moving.

Texas has very serious consequences for driving while intoxicated (DWI) charges, even if it’s your first offense. You face an automatic driver’s license suspension 40 days after your arrest if you fail to request an administrative license revocation (ALR) hearing within 15 days of the arrest. As an experienced Austin, Texas DWI Lawyer, Betty is dedicated to making certain that each and every person who’s charged with a DWI knows exactly what types of consequences they face, and she will defend their rights before a jury if need be.

As of September 1st, 2005, Texas DWI laws became even more severe. To see how this may affect you and your DWI/DUI charges, contact the Law Office of Betty Blackwell today. Don’t be left to defend yourself against your serious DWI charge alone or with a defense lawyer who doesn’t know Texas DWI law. Don’t jeopardize your driver’s license by waiting too long to request a hearing.

Betty Blackwell is an experienced trial lawyer with over 30 years defending people charged with crimes. She is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Betty can help you!

Do you know what to look for in a good attorney? Perhaps you’ve got a different type of case, and you’re just not sure where to turn. Keep reading to find out more about how you can find the right attorney that matches up with your needs and provides the service that you deserve.

Review a Lawyer’s history before hiring them. Even though a lawyer has a license, that doesn’t mean they’re good. Be aware of their record so you can be sure they will do a good job.

A good tip if you’re looking to bring on a lawyer is to make sure you thoroughly investigate whether or not a certain lawyer will be a good fit. It’s generally a good idea to go over a few different lawyers at a time and compare them to each other.

Prior to looking for a lawyer, carefully examine your issue. First, determine whether you really need an attorney. Cases involving criminal acts, divorce and other critical issues require the skills and expertise of a good attorney. You could very well need the expert opinion of a lawyer regarding finances or business, even if these are not areas you are generally concerned with.

Try to educate yourself on what you are dealing with. You should not be relying solely on the lawyer to plan and construct your case. Obviously, they will have more knowledge and experience dealing with your situation, but if you are prepared, you can work together as a team to get the win.

Ask your lawyer for an estimate when you decide they’re the one for you. If they say no, walk away immediately. Even if they just give you a range and explain what makes a case more or less expensive, that is good enough. Make sure to get your fee agreement in writing!

If you have been in an accident, do not hire any lawyer that comes to you and tries to solicit your business. This is not only unethical, but it is against the law. You do not want to hire anyone to handle your legal case if you have to worry about their legal ethics.

Know any fees and costs before signing anything. Remember, it’s your job to ask questions in regard to the costs. Ask every question you can think of, and look through every document you are given. Your lawyer is not responsible for you being quick on the draw when it comes to signing official paperwork.

A good tip to remember when working with a lawyer is to try and get as much done in possible in one meeting. You’re going to pay a lot more to schedule different meetings to discuss multiple things. Going over several topics in one meeting can save you a lot of money.

Now that you’ve read this article, you should have the necessary information in hand to help you with selecting the appropriate attorney. Take the knowledge you’ve gained, and find the lawyer that will take your case to the winner’s circle. With something so important, it’s always best that you have the best on your side.

Before you hire a lawyer, sit down and define the problem that you have. Sometimes, you may find that your situation is not bad enough to warrant a lawyer. Understanding exactly what you are going through can help save you a lot of money over time with a lawyer and court fees.

Most people will need a good Lawyer at some point in their lives. Lawyers have many purposes, such as handling any legal trouble you may be in, helping you to secure patents, and even dealing with copyrights. If you need a lawyer, you can learn how to find a good one in this article.

Make sure that you have a decent interaction with any attorney before you invest any money. You may have to spend a good amount of time with your lawyer, so it is important that you choose one that you don’t have any issues working with. Take the time to sit down with any potential attorneys and see if you get a good feel for them.

You must let your lawyer know your communication expectations. A lot of attorneys are hired and are hard to find for quite some time afterwards. Getting a schedule put together in the beginning will assist you in the future.

Don’t hesitate when you have a question for your lawyer. A lawyer that is good will give you detailed updates often. If you feel, at any time, that your lawyer is unable to respond to your questions as he should, you should discuss this with him, and if need be, find someone who will.

Use your professional network to find a reliable business lawyer. Those companies who provide services to top legal players may help you find some good lawyers to consider. Small businesses should refer to bankers for advice. The people in business who regularly deal with the law likely have a more informed opinion about lawyers than other people would.

Don’t assume that a specialist lawyer is more expensive than a general practitioner. While a specialist might indeed have a higher hourly rate, they might charge you for less overall hours. A specialist will not need to spend as much time learning and researching laws regarding a case that a general practitioner would.

Find a lawyer that is trustworthy. This is especially important for financial and business matters. Many lawyers will ask for a blank check or retainer fee. You’ll have to be able to trust them with your finances. Keep yourself protected.

Look for people who have experienced similar problems and ask them which lawyers they used. Your friends and relatives might be helpful but do not follow their suggestions unless you need a lawyer for the same kind of issues. Use the different resources available in your community, such as support groups.

No matter who you are, you could always use a good lawyer. The reason you may need a lawyer can depend on your circumstances. Regardless of this, you’ll be able to find a lawyer that can specialize in any legal issue you have. Keep this article in mind when it’s time to find one.

As you will be the one to hire and therefore pay for the services, knowing the current market rate for such services would be important. Usually, legal or attorney services fees varies according to where the services are being performed. Here are the three most important things that you have to consider when deciding what amount should be fair enough as fees for your attorney;

1. Decide on how much money you can afford to pay. As the client, you know how much you can afford. And you should tell your attorney that. In most cases, if you cant afford to pay a lot, you can opt for public attorneys. They usually have low rates for their services. But just the same, you need to determine how much money you have and if you can pay the attorneys regular rates.

2. The kind of services needed. You should also know whether you will need an expert attorney in a certain field. Most fees are based on the level of expertise needed in a legal service or how much work is involved.

3. The usual rate for the type of service. Appraising how much money you will need as payment for attorney services will usually depend on the type of service rendered. Hence, it is important that youd be able to distinguish what type of services you need. It is also important that you know the current rate for the type of service that you need.

When deciding about the attorney services fees, it is also vital that you plan on what type of fee arrangement you will offer. Actually, this is also a factor when deciding how to pay your attorneys. Now, you will need to decide whether you will pay him/her a flat rate, hourly rate or contingency fee.

The latter will mean that you will pay your attorney a certain percentage on any amount that you will get should you win a case; for example, settlement fee for divorce or child custody. You will have to discuss on how much you will possibly get and what percentage should be the payment.

If you are going to pay a flat rate, on the other hand, the attorney will determine how much is the total fee that you will have to pay. Other expenses such as photocopying, etc are computed with the flat rate fee. Now, hourly rate shall be computed based on the hours spent by your attorney on the case or proceedings.